Summary

This study sought to explore the nature of the stalking
experiences of noncelebrity stalking victims who had previously been
in intimate relationships with their stalkers. These were cases in
which the stalkers were seeking revenge and/or reconciliation through
stalking. Data were collected from 187 female stalking victims during
1991-1995 living in Chester, Delaware, Bucks, Philadelphia, and
Montgomery counties in southeastern Pennsylvania. Data collection was
comprised of an extensive, semistructured, face-to-face interview
conducted with each woman to gather information concerning the nature
of the stalking, the relationship between the victim and the stalker,
the victim's response to the stalking, the consequences of the
stalking for the victim, the needs of stalking victims in general, and
fulfillment of those needs in terms of victim services and interaction
with and cooperation from the criminal justice system. A brief survey
questionnaire was also administered to obtain demographic information
about each victim and her stalker. Content analysis of the interview
transcripts was used to identify variables. Each variable fell into
one of six categories: (1) victim's prior relationship with the
stalker, (2) characteristics of the stalking, (3) victim's attempt to
discourage the stalker (through both legal and extralegal mechanisms),
(4) assistance sought by the victim through formal and informal
networks and the subsequent handling of the situation by others, (5)
the physical and emotional effects of the stalking on the victim, and
(6) other victimization experiences. Demographic variables include
the age, race, education level, marital status, and employment status
of both the victim and the stalker.

Subject Terms

Geographic Coverage

Time Period(s)

1991 -- 1995

Date of Collection

1996-01 -- 1997-07

Data Collection Notes

The user guide and codebook are provided as a Portable
Document Format (PDF) file. The PDF file format was developed by Adobe
Systems Incorporated and can be accessed using PDF reader software,
such as the Adobe Acrobat Reader. Information on how to obtain a copy
of the Acrobat Reader is provided on the ICPSR Website.

Study Purpose

Stalking is estimated to be a widespread problem
in the United States, affecting people of all walks of life. However,
previous research on stalking and victims of stalking has been
scant. Most research addressing the stalking issue has been either
primarily legal in nature or focused solely on high-profile cases
involving celebrities and political leaders, although victims of
stalkings are, more often than not, "everyday, ordinary people." Few
studies have investigated the incidence and nature of noncelebrity
stalking victimization. Moreover, these studies have often
concentrated on many different types of stalkings (e.g., current
intimate, former intimate, acquaintance, stranger, erotomanic, and
sociopathic/psychopathic stalkings), rather than researching any one
particular type of stalking. The purpose of this study was to explore
the nature of the stalking experiences of noncelebrity stalking
victims who had previously been in an intimate relationship with their
stalkers. These were cases in which the stalkers were seeking revenge
and/or reconciliation through stalking.

Study Design

Data were collected from 187 female stalking
victims during 1991-1995 living in Chester, Delaware, Bucks,
Philadelphia, and Montgomery counties in southeastern Pennsylvania.
An extensive, semistructured, face-to-face interview was conducted
with each woman to gather information concerning the nature of the
stalking, the relationship between the victim and stalker, the
victim's response to the stalking, the consequences of the stalking
for the victim, the needs of stalking victims in general, and
fulfillment of those needs in terms of victim services and interaction
with and cooperation from the criminal justice system. The specific
interview questions were based on a review of the limited literature
on stalking, as well as on general victimization literature. Each
interview, lasting between one and three hours, consisted of both
open-ended and fixed alternative questions, and respondents were
allowed to elaborate following every question. Each interview began by
requesting the victim to describe her stalking victimization in her
own words. Responses to this question lasted anywhere from five
minutes to two hours. Following the initial question, the remaining
interview questions were asked. Due to the nature and length of the
interviews, each interview was tape-recorded and later
transcribed. Content analysis of the interview transcripts was used to
identify variables. However, because of the semistructured approach
taken in conducting the interviews, not all respondents provided data
pertaining to every variable. A brief survey questionnaire was also
administered to obtain demographic information about each victim and
her stalker.

Sample

Universe

Unit(s) of Observation

Individuals.

Data Source

personal interviews and self-enumerated questionnaires

Data Type(s)

survey data

Description of Variables

Each variable fell into one of six categories: (1)
victim's prior relationship with the stalker, (2) characteristics of
the stalking (e.g., phone calls, letters, veiled or conditional
threats), (3) victim's attempt to discourage the stalker (through both
legal and extralegal mechanisms), (4) assistance sought by the victim
through formal and informal networks, and the subsequent handling of
the situation by family, friends, the police, prosecutors, judges, and
psychologists (specifically their politeness, sympathy, and
helpfulness), (5) the physical and emotional effects of the stalking
on the victim (in particular, trouble sleeping, nightmares, weight
loss, loneliness, sadness, flashbacks, headaches, stomach problems,
uncontrollable crying, depression, dizziness, feelings of guilt,
anger, and anxiety attacks), and (6) other victimization experiences,
and their seriousness and severity of harmfulness to the victim. Other
variables concern physical triggers within the relationship leading to
the stalking, the types of physical violence and injuries sustained by
both the victim and the stalker before and during the stalking, the
number of months the stalking took place, the stalker's prior
offenses, convictions, and prison sentences, changes in the victim's
security habits, and stalking-related financial costs incurred by the
victim. Demographic variables include the age, race, education level,
marital status, and employment status of both the victim and the
stalker.

Response Rates

Not available.

Presence of Common Scales

Original Release Date

2000-08-04

Version Date

2000-08-04

Version History

2000-08-04 ICPSR data undergo a confidentiality review and are altered when necessary to limit the risk of disclosure. ICPSR also routinely creates ready-to-go data files along with setups in the major statistical software formats as well as standard codebooks to accompany the data. In addition to these procedures, ICPSR performed the following processing steps for this data collection:

Standardized missing values.

Checked for undocumented or out-of-range codes.

Notes

The public-use data files in this collection are available for access by the general public. Access does not require affiliation with an ICPSR member institution.

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